The US weapons maker Lockheed Martin says it is “standing by” to help Ukrainians fly and maintain F-16 fighter jets once NATO countries finalize their plans to provide Kyiv with the aircraft.
Lockheed Martin is also ready to manufacture more F-16s to backfill the stockpiles of countries that ship their jets to Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has been a boon for Lockheed Martin as they make many of the weapons systems being poured into the conflict zone, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and the HIMARS rocket systems.
“We are standing by, ready to not only backfill need as it arises with new F-16 builds but also any modifications to F-16s as well as training, equipment and systems,” Frank St John, the chief operating officer of Lockheed, told Financial Times.
There’s still a long way to go before Ukraine is armed with F-16s, as its pilots still need training, and NATO countries still haven’t committed to providing the jets. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark have all signaled that they will send Ukraine their F-16s, but the arrangement hasn’t been finalized.
St John said that initial training and support will take place in a third country but said Lockheed Martin is eyeing setting up shop in Ukraine in the future. “When these hostilities end, there will have to be a sustaining presence for training and maintenance and then the logical place would be for that to be in and around Ukraine,” he said.
Russia has strongly warned against the provision of F-16s for Ukraine as it will mark a significant escalation of NATO support for Kyiv. But the US and its allies have brushed off the Russian concerns.
Ah yes, more “accounting errors” I’m sure. A couple F-16’s and $50,000 trash cans are all just a rounding error for the military industrial complex.
St John said that initial training and support will take place in a third country but said Lockheed Martin is eyeing setting up shop in Ukraine in the future. “When these hostilities end, there will have to be a sustaining presence for training and maintenance and then the logical place would be for that to be in and around Ukraine,” he said.
This clown act like he’s part of the decision making process. Oh wait, he is.
… And S-350 and S-400 systems are waiting to respond in kind…!
Actually, the S-300/400 weapon systems appear to be hugely overrated.
https://www.globaldefensecorp.com/2021/01/01/russian-air-defense-systems-overrated-useless-in-an-actual-combat/
It appears the Russians just talked them up to increase foreign sales.
You misspelled “Patriot”
Of course, what else do you expect from a western media assessment…?!
Oh look, Grandpa Biden just blew up the deescalation with China. This is a clown show.
My grandfather fought during the battle of Britain. He brought down 4 german bombers and another 3 german fighters in a single day. He was without doubt the worst mechanic in the entire Luftwaffe.
I hear shutdowns are glorious this time of the year?
Who will be dumb enough to let these jets take off for Ukraine? As soon as the first jet takes off, a Kalibr missile will land at that airbase. And that is the best scenario. Kremlin may decide to repay in full for all previous imperial infractions. They have a very long list of scores to settle.
If Zelinsky is correct, then the Ukrainian forces need more landmine-sweepers.
What a pointless statement.
That’s like GM saying they are ‘standing by’ to help anyone who wants to buy/service a new Chevrolet.
Well duh.
What is the Lockheed guy going to say?
‘We are not interested in making money. So we will not build/service the new, hugely-profitable F-16’s that were ordered for Ukraine.’
BTW, Lockheed opened a second, F-16 production line for foreign sales in 2021.
And the biggest European war since WW2 starts up less than a year later.
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2619834/air-force-opens-new-f-16-production-line-for-foreign-military-sales/
How convenient.